Sustainable Office: How Hybrid Work Can Cut CO₂ Emissions by Up to 70%

As strong supporters of hybrid work models, we continually monitor the latest research in this field. This post shares key findings from a recent study revealing the substantial CO₂ reduction potential that hybrid work can deliver. In short: integrating remote work into company operations can lower transport and building emissions by up to 70%. Here's how.

The Key to Sustainable Office Solutions

The studyin focus was spearheaded by the International Workplace Group PLC and Arup, concentrating on major cities in the US and the UK. We're confident that these findings can be extrapolated to Europe and perhaps to other developed nations. Across all scenarios and cities examined, the traditional 5-day office week was the leading contributor to carbon emissions. However, transitioning from this conventional model to flexible remote work setups can curtail carbon emissions from both buildings and transportation by well over half. Impressively, a reduction of up to 70% was observed in Los Angeles alone.

Transportation offers the largest potential for savings. With remote work, commuting emissions can be eliminated entirely. Pairing this with sustainable travel alternatives - such as walking, cycling, or public transit - can drive emissions even lower. Optimizing office space usage further contributes to these reductions.

Hybrid Work Can Reduce CO₂ Emissions

In U.S. cities, potential savings are significant due to extended commuting distances, prevalent use of larger, less energy-efficient vehicles, and a lower reliance on public transportation. Therefore, remote work can lead to significant savings in transportation emissions. However, even in major UK cities where public transportation is well-integrated, a shift to a remote work model that includes both home and local workspace arrangements can reduce transport emissions by up to 80%. This reduction is remarkable and does not even include the benefits of incorporating more sustainable transportation alternatives. The urgency of these shifts becomes evident when we consider that domestic transport accounts for 23% of all CO emissions across the EU, as reported by the EEA. (EEA)

Smart Office Space Optimization Cuts Building Emissions

As we all know, building-related CO₂ emissions pose a significant threat to the environment and it's our responsibility to act. In Germany, buildings are responsible for around 33% of the total energy consumption. (BWE) According to UNEP, the construction and building industry accounts for 38% of global CO₂ emissions, both directly and indirectly. By embracing hybrid work, companies can make a significant impact on reducing office space requirements, resulting in substantial cost savings and reductions in building-related CO₂ emissions. (M.O.O.CON). Moreover, in the buildings carbon analysis the IWG study shows that building emissions from gas and electricity can be reduced by up to 41%, depending on the remote work model chosen and the location of the office.